Tree Protestor Climbs Down

The protester who climbed the large kauri tree in Titirangi to prevent it being felled has ended his protest after the developers responsible say they will not cut the tree down following widespread public and political criticism. However, the developers who own the site on which the tree lives, may still fell it if they are not paid compensation for the losses sustained by the tree’s survival.

Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse says the council is not going to buy the land, and the director general of the Department of Conservation, Lou Sanson has also declared his department is not in a position to pay for just one tree.

The decision to fell the established tree to build a house on the site has provided oxygen to the cause of kauri protection, especially as it was originally intended to chop it down a day after a council organised save the kauri promotion in the neighbourhood.